Protesters confront AGL management about NSW coal seam gas field

About 20 coal seam gas protesters have confronted senior management at the AGL annual general meeting in Melbourne.

The AGL energy company is Australia's biggest investor in renewable energy, but plans for gas exploration in the New South Wales Upper Hunter Valley have raised the ire of landholders and environmentalists.

At the company's annual general meeting in Melbourne, AGL chairman Jerry Maycock responded to questions from the floor by protesters.

He said he expected the field of 330 wells proposed for the Gloucester region to make good economic sense.

He said that he was worried about impacts on the company's reputation, but that it had to move forward.

Four fracking tests are scheduled for before Christmas as part of a water survey.

The protesters say they are getting what they called a "positive response" from the shareholders they have met.